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25th Congress, 
2d Session. 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 


Ho. of Reps. 

War Dept. 


SEMINOLE INDIANS—PRISONERS OF WAR. 


LETTER 

FROM 

THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 

IX REPLY TO 

A resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21 st ultimo , as to 
whether any Seminole Indians , coming in under a flag of truce , or 
brought in hy Cherokee Indians , acting as mediators , have been 
made prisoners by General Jesup. 


April 11, 1838. 

Read, and laid upon the table. 


Department of War, April 10, 1838. 

Sir : The enclosed report of the Commanding General of the army, and 
accompanying documents, together with those numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, 
are respectfully submitted, as containing such of the information called 
for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st ultimo 
as to whether “ any Seminole Indians, coming in under a flag of truce, or 
brought in by Cherokee Indians, acting as mediators, have been made 
prisoners by General Jesup/’ as is now in the possession of this Depart¬ 
ment. 

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

S. COOPER, 

Acting Secretary of War. 

Hon. James K. Polk, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 


Headquarters of the Army, 

Washington , March 29, 1838. 

Sir : I have the honor to lay before you, herewith, the report of the 
Adjutant General, furnishing so much of the information called for by the 
resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st instant, as is in the 
possession of the headquarters of the army. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 

ALEX. MACOMB, 

Major General. 

Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War. 







2 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

H 

Adjutant General’s Office, 


Washington , March 26, 1838. 


Sir : Agreeably to your instructions, I herewith respectfully submit for 
your information copies of all such communications and documents on 
file in this office as appear to have any relation to the subject of inquiry 
contained in the resolution of the House of Representatives dated 21st 
March. 

These documents are lettered from A to I, inclusive, viz : 

A. Letter from Major General Jesup, the commanding general in Flor¬ 
ida, to the Adjutant General, dated October 21, 1837. 

B. Letter from General Jesup to the Secretary of War, dated October 
22, 1837. 

C. Letter from General Jesup to the Adjutant General, dated Novem¬ 
ber 17, transmitting copies of his instructions to General Hernandez, 
marked D ; General Hernandez’s report, marked E ; a “ talk ” with the 
Indians, marked F; and a communication on the subject from Captain 
L. B. Webster, marked G. 

H. Letter from General Jesup to the Secretary of War, dated Decem¬ 
ber 6, 1837. 

I. Letter from General Jesup to the Adjutant General, dated December 


14, 1837. 

Documents B and H will be found in the printed correspondence with 
Major General Jesup, document No. 78 of the present session of Con¬ 
gress, House of Representatives. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. JONES, 
Adjutant General. 

Major General A. Macomb, 

Commanding , fyc. 


A. 

Headquarters, Army of the South, 

St. Augustine , October 21, 1837. 

Sir : I have received your letter dated October, covering a copy of a 
statement submitted to the Secretary of War, dated the 29th of August, of 
the probable number of troops (regulars and marines) for service in 
Florida. That statement embraces the entire organization, as I under¬ 
stand it, of the companies in, and to be sent to, Florida; but you are aware 
that the establishment is never full, and that in this climate it is rare that 
two-thirds of the nominal force is ever effective. The commanding officer 
at Tampa reports that, of his command, the troops from the interior, who 
are reported for duty, are barely convalescent. Of the whole regular 
force which will be in Florida, I am sure not more than two thousand 
will be effective, and the discharges will probably equal the recruits who 
will join. If we can commence, early the next month, our operations in 
advance, the enemy may be found, and perhaps beaten before the close of 
the winter. I regret that a small body of recruits had not arrived early 
this month, to enable me to occupy Volusia and Fort Mellon. 



3 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

I have caused Powell, Wild-Cat, Coe-Hajo, John Cawaya, the two 
Hickses, Tustenuck-kee, Chitto-Yahola, with upwards of seventy Micasu- 
key and Seminole warriors to be seized, and I have them now confined in 
the fort at this place. Powell, Wild-Cat, and John Cawaya, were the 
cause of the Seminoles failing to fulfil their treaty. We have here about 
one hundred and thirteen Indian prisoners, and among them nearly all the 
war spirits of the nation. 

I shall detach General Hernandez to-morrow, with three or four hun¬ 
dred mounted men, dragoons and volunteers, to Tomoka, and perhaps to 
Volusia, to attack or capture numerous small parties of Indians and ne¬ 
groes said to be east of the St. John’s, preparing coontee, (a species of 
the arrowroot.) And I shall send, early the next morning, a steamboat 
with a detachment of the artillery and a company of the 2d infantry to 
Volusia, for a party of negroes, said to be there or at Spring Garden. 

My prisoners, since I commenced operations in December last, amount 
to about five hundred, black and red ; and about thirty Indians and ne¬ 
groes have been killed, by which more than two hundred rifles have been 
silenced. And we have guides for every part of the country. I may be 
deceived, but I think the prospect of closing the war is now flattering. 

I have the honor to be, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

THOMAS S. JESUP, 
Major General commanding . 

Brigadier General R. Jones, 

Adjutant General. 


B. 

Headquarters, Army of the South, 

St. Augustine , October 22, 1837. 

Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters 
of the 7th instant; and I have the satisfaction to inform you that Asseen 
Yoholo (Powell) is my prisoner, with nearly all the war spirits of the 
nation. 

That chief came into the vicinity of Fort Peyton on the 20th, and sent 
a messenger to General Hernandez, desiring to see and converse with 
him. The sickly season being over, and there being no further necessity 
to temporize, I sent a party of mounted men, and seized the entire body, 
and now have them securely lodged in the fort. 

I have Emathla, (Philip,) Coe-Hajo, Miccopotokee, and Euchee Billy, 
all principal chiefs; Coacochee, (Wild Cat,) Asseen Yoholo, (Powell,) 
Chitto Yoholo, Tustunnuggee, and several other important personages, 
sub-chiefs, with more than" eighty first-rate warriors; and I have guides 
who can lead the army into every fastness in the country. 

I have the honor to’be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

TH. S. JESUP, 

Major General commanding . 

Hon. J. R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War, Washington city. 



4 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

C. 

Headquarters, Army of the South, 

Pico lata , November 17, 1837. 

General : I enclose a copy of a report of General Hernandez, detail¬ 
ing the operations of the force under his command, from the 17th to the 
21st ultimo, inclusive. I would have sent this document sooner, but, oc¬ 
cupied as all the gentlemen near me have been, I have not been able to 
have a copy made. In the copies of my official communications, already 
sent to your office, you will find my instructions to General Hernandez, 
as to the subjects to be discussed with the Indians, as well as my order to 
seize them. 

I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

TH. S. JESUP, 

Major General commanding. 

Brig. Gen. R. Jones, 

Adjutant General , Washington city 


D. 

Memoranda for General Hernandez. 

St. Augustine, October 21, 1837. 

Ascertain the objects of the Indians in coming in at this time; also, 
their expectations. Are they prepared to deliver all the negroes taken 
from citizens, at once ? Why have they not surrendered them already, 
as promised by Coe-Hajo, at Fort King ? Have the chiefs of the nation 
held a council in relation to the subjects of the talk at Fort King ? What 
chiefs attended that council, and what was their determination ? Have 
the chiefs sent a messenger with the decision of the council ? Have the 
principal chiefs, Micanopy, Jumper, Cloud, and Alligator, sent a messen¬ 
ger, and, if so, what is their message ? Why have not the chiefs come in 
themselves ? 

TH. S. JESUP. 


Fort Peyton, October 21, 1S37. 

General : Let the chiefs and warriors know that we have been de¬ 
ceived by them long enough, and that we do not intend to be deceived 
again. Order the whole party directly to town ; you have force sufficient 
to compel obedience, and they must move instantly. I have information 
of a recent murder by the Indians ? they must be disarmed; they can 
talk in town, and send any messengers out they please. 

TH. S. JESUP. 




5 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

E. 

Headquarters forces East of the St. John’s, 

St. Augustine , October 22. 1S37. 

General : The Indian chief Coacoochee having, conformably to his 
engagement, when he was permitted to depart from this, returned about 
12 o’clock on Tuesday, the 17th instant, and having reported that about 
one hundred Indians would be at Pellicer’s creek on the following day, 
among whom would be Oseola and Coa Hajo, I proceeded, on the 18th 
instant, with Captain Hanson’s company of Florida volunteers, Captain 
Green’s company of Georgia volunteers, and a part of a company of 
the 2d regiment of United States dragoons under Lieutenant Gilpin, to 
meet these Indians. On my arrival at Pellicer’s creek, I found, on this 
side of the creek, about thirty or forty warriors, and learned from my 
officers that there appeared to be about as many on the south side of it; 
but that neither Oseola nor Coa Hajo had joined them. It was repre¬ 
sented to me by the sub-chief, John Cavallo, who conducted the talk on 
the part of the Indians, that these chiefs were expected in the evening 
of that day or the subsequent morning. In this interview it was my 
purpose to hold out every proper encouragement to induce the Indians to 
rely on kind treatment from the whites in the event of their coming in, 
and bringing with them the negroes and other property captured during 
the war, expressing our desire to put an end to hostilities; and I pro¬ 
cured a promise from them to move northwardly to the neighborhood of 
Fort Peyton. 

On the morning of the 20th instant, John Cavallo, with another Indian, 
accompanied by Lieutenant Pej^ton, arrived in town, with information 
that Oseola and Coa Hajo, with the Indians, had encamped near Fort 
Peyton, and stating that they expected to see me there on the following 
morning. 

Having directed to be assembled at Fort Peyton, under the command 
of Major J. A. Ashby, of the 2d regiment United States dragoons, parts 
of companies D, F, and I, of that regiment, under Captain Beall: com¬ 
pany H, of the same regiment, under Lieutenant Gilpin; Captain Green’s 
company of Georgia volunteers; and Captain Hanson’s company of 
mounted East Florida volunteers; I proceeded to that post on the morn¬ 
ing of the 21st instant, accompanied by my assistant adjutant general, 
Major Drysdale; my quartermaster, Major Robion; and my two aids-de- 
camp, Major Gibbs and Lieutenant Graham, of the 2d regiment United 
States dragoons; as also by your aid-de-camp and acting adjutant gen¬ 
eral, Lieutenant Chambers, and Colonel Warren. Leaving Fort Peyton, 
I found the Indians encamped about a mile south of that post, on the 
north of a pretty large cypress pond. 

For the purpose of carrying into effect your instructions conveyed to 
me verbally by your aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Linnard, after having left 
Fort Peyton, that if the answers of the chiefs to my inquiries should not 
be satisfactory they were to be made prisoners, I had given the necessary 
instructions to Major Ashby to ensure their capture if it should become 
necessary. In conformity to these directions, believing from the disposi¬ 
tions of the Indians that they did not mean to surrender, they were com¬ 
pletely surrounded in about ten minutes after I reached their encamp- 


6 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

merit. I found there Oseola and Coa Hajo, with a force which I then es¬ 
timated at about sixty warriors. 

In the prosecution of my purposes in this interview, I learned that the 
Indians were perfectly disposed to bring in the negroes and property taken 
from the inhabitants during the war, but that they were by no means pre¬ 
pared to surrender themselves ; and their answers to the questions put to 
them in regard to the breach of their stipulations made with you at Fort 
King, I conceive to be wholly evasive and unsatisfactory. Indeed, their 
answers were generally so. From these circumstances, and agreeably to 
your express order, conveyed to me during the talk, that they should be 
made prisoners, I gave a signal, previously agreed on, and the troops 
closed in on them. The arms and baggage of the Indians, with the po¬ 
nies, amounting to twenty-four, were now ordered to be collected, and 
the line of march taken up for St. Augustine. Two of the party were 
absent from the camp when I arrived at it, and one of them, I regret to 
say, escaped ; the other, in attempting to do so, was taken and secured 
by Colonel Sanchez, between Fort Peyton and their encampment. 

I have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which my or¬ 
ders on this occasion were executed by Major Ashby, and the officers and 
men under his command. I have little doubt that the purposes of the 
Indians were far from being such as might have been expected under the 
circumstances; and I am convinced, on our determination to capture 
them, that nothing but the promptitude and efficiency of the movements 
of the troops under my command prevented the effusion of blood; for 
the arms of the enemy, artfully covered by deer-skins, as if carelessly 
thrown on the ground occupied by them, were ready and evidently pre¬ 
pared for action, and to prevent surprise. 

The accompanying report will show that there were captured on this 
occasion 71 warriors, (j women, and 4 Indian negroes, with 47 rifles and 
their accoutrements of powder-horns and 43 pouches. The horns are 
generally about half-filled with good powder, and they had abundance of 
lead. Five additional rifles have since been brought in. 

On my way to Pellicer’s creek, I met 74 negroes, brought in by the In¬ 
dians, and forwarded by Captain Hanson, who, with his company, pre¬ 
ceded me with provisions for Indians, whom, from the information de¬ 
rived from Coacoochee, I expected to meet there. 

Accompanying this, I beg lo transmit to you a minute of the talk held 
with these Indians, which will show the answers given to the ques¬ 
tions you desired me to put to them ; from all which, it is manifest that 
they had not come here with an intention of remaining. 

I have the honor to be, general, with much respect, your obedient 
servant, 

JOSEPH M. HERNANDEZ, 
Brig Gen’l com’g. 

To Major General Th. S. Jesup, 

Commanding army of the South . 


P. S. I find I have omitted to state that before the line of march was 
taken up for St. Augustine, Captain Drane joined me with his company 
of foot. * 


7 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

F. 

Notes of a talk between Brigadier General Hernandez and the Indian 

chiefs Osinyohola (or Poivell) and Coahajo, on the 21 st October, 

1S37, taken by Major K. B. Gibbs, aid-de-camp. 

General. What people have come with you ? 

Chiefs. All that are well, and they could gather. 

General. I speak to you as a friend : what induced you to come? 

Chiefs. We come tor good. 

General. At whose request did you come ? 

Chiefs. Philip sent us a message by Coacoochee. 

General. What message did Philip send? 

Chiefs. Philip sent word to us that there would be a great [not legible] 
to each other: he sent his son to let them know to come in, and they 
did so. 

General. What do you expect from me ? 

Chiefs. We don’t know. 

General. Have you come to give up to me as your friend ? 

Chiefs. No, we did not understand so; word went from here, and we 
have come ; we have done nothing all summer, and want to make peace. 

General. In what way to make peace ? 

Chiefs. They thought they would come in and make peace, with liberty 
to walk about. 

General. Are you ready to give up all the property you have captured? 

Chiefs. We intend to do so, to bring in what is due to the white peo¬ 
ple ; we have brought a good many negroes in now. 

General. Why have you not given up the negroes before, as Coahajo 
promised at Camp King ? 

Chiefs. The negroes were scattered, but they intended to do so. 

General. Did the chiefs assemble after the talk at Camp King ? 

Chiefs. They were gathered, but had not time to talk. 

General. What chiefs gathered at that time ? 

Chiefs. Three or four. 

General. Have you any message for me ? and the names of the chiefs 
who send the message ? 

Chiefs. We have some talk from the chiefs; two more chiefs were to 
have come with us, but they got sick and went back—John Cavallo bring 
their talk. [They bring talk from Pon Governor, Jumper, and Holatoochee, 
who are the heads of the nation.] Amico and Hospitala are the two 
chiefs that got sick and turned back. 

General. Why did not Micanopy, Jumper, and Cloud, come instead of 
sending a message? 

Chiefs. They all got the measles, and could not come. 

General. What word did they send by you ? 

Chiefs. When they got stronger, they would come and see you. 

General. I am an old friend of Philip’s, and wish you all well; but we 
have been deceived so often, that it is necessary for you to come with me; 
you can send out a messenger; you shall stay with me, and none of you 
shall be hurt ; you will all see the good treatment that you will expe¬ 
rience ; you will be glad that you fell into my hands. 

Chiefs. We will see about it. 

General. You know that, until now, the white people have let you do 


8 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

as you pleased ; they did not wish to hurt you; they beat drums and 
fired the big guns to induce you to come in. 

Chiefs. That is true. 

General. The white people were in great bodies to induce you to 
come in, and to show you their power. You are clear of the war, and 
are going with me to St. Augustine. 

Chiefs. Yes. 

General. The troops are going into the field, but without drums or 
big guns ; they will come upon them, and be seen as birds in the air, with¬ 
out expecting them. 

Chiefs. Yes—it is all straight. 

General. We know the country, and, if we do not, we have good guides; 
the force will be spread over the whole country. 

Chiefs. Yes—you are right. 

General. You are now speaking to one who is your sincere friend; 
you are going to St. Augustine, and none will hurt you. 

Chiefs. Yes. 

General. I have brought Blue Snake to prove what I say is true. 
Blue Snake said that all the general says is true. But he understood 
the Indians were to be allowed to return. 

General. I have just heard of one white man killed on the other side of 
the St. John’s. You are prisoners, and prisoners never suffer with us. Tell 
the young men not to be afraid, we do not mean to hurt them ; but it is 
necessary that they be secured till they get in town. Nothing will hap¬ 
pen to them. 

The arms and baggage of the Indians were now ordered to be collected, 
and the line of march taken up for St. Augustine. 

K. B. GIBBS, A. B. C. 


G. 


Fort Marion, October 22, 1837. 


General : In obedience to your orders, I have the honor of reporting 
that, of the Indian prisoners captured yesterday, and came over to me last 
evening, there are seventy-one Indian warriors, four negro men, and six 
Indian women. The arms are forty-seven rifles, old and much worn; 
forty-three rifle pouches and horns ; a good supply of lead, but a small 
quantity of excellent powder, (the horns generally not more than a fourth 
full;) six hatchets, two axes, eighty knives, nineteen pack-saddles. 

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant, 

L. B. WEBSTER, 


Brigadier General Hernandez, 

Commanding east of the St. John’s. 


Captain 1st Artillery. 


H. 

Headquarters, Army of the South, 

Steamboat on Lake George , December 6, 1837. 
Sir : On the evening of the 3d instant, Micanopy, Cloud, Toskegee, 
and Nocose Yoholo came into camp and surrendered themselves. They 
were accompanied by the Cherokee delegation, and by the chief Coe-hajo, 




9 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

whom I had sent out to assure the Seminole Indians that all who would 
surrender should receive kind treatment. The Cherokee delegation have 
acted in accordance with the views of the Government. On explaining 
to the Seminole chiefs the talk of Mr. Ross, they have urged the import¬ 
ance and necessity of fulfilling all their treaty stipulations. They mani¬ 
fest every disposition to co-operate with me, and, thus far, I approve en¬ 
tirely of their course. On the 5th instant I met the Seminole chiefs in 
council : the principal officers of the army and the Cherokee delegation 
attended. 

I opened the council by remarking on the bad faith with which the 
Seminoles had acted, and desired to know from them what were their 
views and expectations in coming to camp. Micanopy replied that he 
desired peace, and would fulfil the treaty which he had made with us ; but 
that his people were dispersed, and that several of the principal chiefs 
were absent, and could not join him for many days; but he and the other 
chiefs observed, that give them time, and all would “ go right.” 

I replied, that our object was to save, not to destroy them ; that it was 
the desire of the Government and people of the United States to treat 
them with the utmost liberality; but we had been so often deceived by 
their promises, that I hardly knew how to rely on their professions; that 
it was my intention not to be deceived by them again; and I required 
the immediate surrender of the families of the chiefs and warriors confined 
at St. Augustine. Micanopy promised to surrender them. I then required 
that Sam Jones should surrender, with his people, and that all the Semi¬ 
noles and Mickasukies within four days’ march of us should come in im¬ 
mediately, and surrender their arms. This was assented to. Seven days 
were allowed for the families at St. Augustine and for Jones’s people to 
surrender, and ten for those of Micanopy and Cloud. Messengers were 
immediately despatched to carry the orders of the chiefs into effect. 
Though I believe the chiefs to be sincere, I have but little reliance on 
their promises. I doubt their influence over their people. I shall, how¬ 
ever, hold them as hostages, and compel them to act as guides if their 
people should not come in. Ten days will settle the matter. 

Having a few days disposable, I determined to go to Garey’s ferry, and 
make arrangements in relation to the volunteer force lately arrived ; and 
I am now on my way down for that purpose. 

I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

T. S. JESUP, 

Major General commanding. 

The Hon. J. R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War , Washington city . 

P. S. I propose to discharge the Florida volunteers immediately. 


I. 

Headquarters, Army of the South, 

Fort Mellon , December 14, 1837. 

Sir : Since the return of the Cherokee delegation this morning, I have 
caused all the Indians in camp, and in this vicinity, to be seized and 
placed on board of a steamboat destined for Fort Heileman, whence they 
will be sent to St. Augustine. There are seventy-two Indians: among 



10 


[ Doc. No. 327. J 

them are Micanopy, Cloud, and Nocose Yoholo, principal chiefs. There 
is, in addition, one Indian negro. 

I am, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

TH. S. JESUP, 

Major General commanding. 
Brig. Gen. R. Jones, Adj. General , Washington City . 

The foregoing letters and documents, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, 
and I, are true copies. 

R. JONES, Adjutant General. 

March 26, 183S. 


No. 1. 

Department of War, October 31, 1837. 

Sir : It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 22d instant, containing the gratifying intelligence of the cap¬ 
ture of Powell and other important personages of the Seminoles ; and I 
trust that a sufficient number of troops have by this time reached Florida, 
to enable you to act with energy, and to compel the rest of the nation to 
sue for peace. 

I have to request that you will write weekly at least to the Department, 
by the opportunity now offered by the steamer Poinsett. 

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

J. R. POINSETT. 

Major General Thomas S. Jesup, 

Garey’s Ferry , Florida. 


No. 2. 

Adjutant General’s Office, 

Washington , November 3, 1S37. 

Sir: I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your several 
letters, respectively dated the 19th, 21st, and 23d of October, communi¬ 
cating the highly satisfactory intelligence of the seizure of Powell, Wild 
Cat, and other influential chiefs, with many Indian warriors of the hos- 
tiles; all of which have been laid before the Major General. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

II. JONES. 

Major General Thomas S. Jesup, 

Commanding , §c., Florida. 


No. 3. 

Picolata, November 17 , 1S37. 

Dear Sir: As I shall depart to-day for the interior, and, in the casual¬ 
ties of an active campaign, it is possible I may not return, I desire that 
the seizure of Powell and other chiefs and warriors may be understood by 
my friends. J 

Powell, Coacoochee, the two Hickses, and several other sub-chiefs- 
orgamzed the abduction of Micanopy and other hostages in June last. 
Coacoochee, John Cavallo, (the latter one of the hostages,) with several 





11 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 


others, carried the hostages off, and with them their people, I then re¬ 
solved to take all who were concerned in the measure, whenever the oppor¬ 
tunity might present. The capture of Philip, by General Hernandez, 
opened the way to effect my object sooner than I had hoped. Coacoochee 
carried off Micanopy by force, and, if he had been a white man, I would 
have executed him the moment he came into my hands. His father, 
(Philip,) however, asked permission to send him out with messages to the 
chiefs and warriors. He returned with one of my hostages, John Cavallo, 
and with most of the sub-chiefs and warriors who were concerned in the 
abduction. I determined, at once, that they should be seized, and held as 
hostages for the conduct of the chiefs and warriors out. 

I gave Lieutenant Peyton, commanding at Fort Peyton, a confidential 
order (A) to seize them, if they should come into the fort. Late at night, 
however, I learned from General Hernandez that they could not be induced 
to come into the fort; and the messenger whom they sent in, (John Ca¬ 
vallo, my hostage,) desired the general to meet them at their camp, with¬ 
out an escort; saying he would be perfectly safe among them without 
troops. I observed to the general, that wherever John Cavallo was, foul 
play might be expected; and I had no doubt the intention of the Indians 
was to seize a sufficient number of officers to exchange for Philip and the 
Euchee chiefs; and I directed that he should increase his escort. I 
requested him to call in the morning for final instructions, and I sent an 
express to Lieutenant Peyton, with a note, informing him that he would 
have no opportunity to execute my confidential order, and he must not 
attempt it, unless the whole force should place themselves within his 
power ; but that we must trust to events. 

On the morning of the 21st, General Hernandez called for final instruc¬ 
tions. I then informed him that I was inclined not to permit the Indians 
to escape, and I gave him a memorandum of the heads of the conversa¬ 
tion I desired him to hold with them, (of which paper B is a copy. ) 
The general departed to Fort Peyton accompanied by a number of officers 
and citizens; among the former, were the gentlemen of my staff. With¬ 
out communicating my intention to any one, I followed to the neighbor¬ 
hood of Fort Peyton, sent in for Lieutenant Peyton, and ascertained from 
him the number and position of the Indians. 1 directed him to go for¬ 
ward and ascertain whether the answers of the Indians to the inquiries 
made by General Hernandez seemed satisfactory. In the mean time, I 
detached an aid, who had joined me, with orders to General Hernandez 
to seize all the party if the talk was not satisfactory. 

Lieutenant Peyton returned to Fort Peyton, whither I had gone, and 
related to me the substance of the answers given by the Indians. Their 
answers were evasive and unsatisfactory, and I sent by Doctor Finlay an 
order (of which C is a copy ) to seize them. The measure was so 
promptly and judiciously executed by Major Ashby, of the 2d dragoons, 
that the Indians, though their rifles were loaded and primed, ready for 
action, had not an opportunity to fire a single gun. 

I consider the force of the nation broken by this capture ; and though 
we may have a month or two of hard service, I think the war must termi¬ 
nate early this winter. 

Most respectfully and truly yours, 

THOMAS S. JESUP. 


Major T. Cross, 

Acting Quartermaster General , Washington city. 


12 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

A. 


[Confidential.] 

St. Augustine, October 20, 1837. 

Should Powell and his warriors come within the fort, seize him and 
his whole party. It is important that he, Wild Cat, John Cowagee, and 
Tustenugge, be secured. Hold them until you have my orders in relation 
to them. 

THOMAS S. JESUP, 

Maj. Gen. commanding. 

Lieut. R. II. Peyton, Fort Peyton. 


B. 

Memorandum for Gen. Hernandez. 

St. Augustine, October 21, 1837. 

Ascertain the object of the Indians in coming in at this time; also 
their expectations. Are they prepared to deliver all the negroes taken 
from the citizens at once ? Why have they not surrendered them already, 
as promised by Coa-Hajo, at Fort King? Have the chiefs of the nation 
held a council in relation to the subjects of the talk at Fort King? What 
chiefs attended that council, and what was their determination ? Have 
the chiefs sent a messenger with the decision of the council ? Have the 
principal chiefs, Micanopy, Jumper, Cloud, and Alligator, sent a messen¬ 
ger ; and, if so, what is their message ? Why have not these chiefs come 
in themselves ? 

TH. S. JESUP. 


C. 

Fort Peyton, October 21 , 1S37. 

General : Let the chiefs and warriors know that we have been de¬ 
ceived by them long enough, and that we do not intend to be deceived 
again. Order the whole party directly to town; you have force sufficient 
to compel obedience, and they must move instantly. I have information 
of a recent murder by the Indians ; they must be disarmed ; they can 
talk in town, and send any messages out they please. 

TH. S. JESUP. 

Gen. J. M. Hernandez. 


Kb 1 2.8 No * 4 ' nj & 

Washington City, January 2, 1S3S. 
Sir: You have doubtless been informed, through Colonel John H. 
Sherburne, of the arrival in this city, on the evening of the 30th ultimo, 





13 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

of the Cherokee deputation who were charged with the duty of endeav¬ 
oring to restore peace between the Seminole Indians and the United States, 
in the character of mediators. This deputation penetrated the deep 
swamps and hammocks of Florida, under the escort of Coahachee, one of 
the captive chiefs; and at Chickasawhatchie, (Chickasaw creek,) a distance 
of sixty miles from Fort Mellon, they met the Seminole and Mickasuky 
chiefs and warriors in council, and there delivered to them the talk which 
I, with your approbation, had sent them. After reading and fully explain¬ 
ing its import through the interpreter, the assembled chiefs and warriors 
at once agreed to receive it in friendship, as coming through their red 
brethren the Cherokees, with the utmost sincerity and good feelings, from 
their elder brother the Secretary of War, who represents their father, the 
President of the United States. When the usual Indian ceremonies on 
this occasion, in smoking the pipe of peace, &c., were concluded, Mican- 
opy, the principal chief, with twelve others of his chieftains, and a num¬ 
ber of their warriors, agreed to accompany the Cherokee deputation, and 
accordingly went with them, under a flag of truce, into the headquarters 
of the United States army, at Fort Mellon. After this successful meet¬ 
ing, further steps were taken for inviting all Ihe people to go in; and 
whilst some were coming in, the escape of Wild-cat from the fort at St. 
Augustine, and other events altogether beyond the control of the Chero¬ 
kee deputation, produced a sudden and unexpected distrust and change 
of determination in the minds of the chiefs and warriors of the nation who 
were still out in their fastnesses. Upon being informed of this fact, it is 
reported that General Jesup immediately ordered his troops to be put in 
motion for hostile operations, and also caused all the chiefs and warriors 
who had come in under the Cherokee flag to be forthwith made prison¬ 
ers of war ; they were then placed in the hold of a steamboat, and ship¬ 
ped to the fort at St. Augustine, and there imprisoned. It is further re¬ 
ported that General Jesup told some of these chiefs that, for the first drop 
of blood which might be spilt by the warriors against whom he had 
marched his troops in battle array, they (the captive chiefs) shall be 
hanged. Under this extraordinary state of the affair, it has become my 
imperious though painful duty, for the defence of my own reputation, as 
well as that of the deputation who acted under my instructions, for car¬ 
rying out the humane objects of this mediation; also, in justice to the 
suffering chiefs and warriors, whose confidence in the purity of our mo¬ 
tives, as well as in the sincerity of the Government, by the assurances held 
out to them under your authority in my talk, had thus placed themselves 
under the flag of truce before the American army, and I do hereby, most 
solemnly protest against this unprecedented violation of that sacred rule 
which has ever been recognised by every nation, civilized and uncivilized, of 
treating with all due respect those who had ever presented themselves under 
a flag of truce before their enemy, for the purpose of proposing the ter¬ 
mination of a warfare. Moreover, I respectfully appeal to and submit 
for your decision, whether justice and policy do not require at your 
hands that these captives should be forthwith liberated, that they may 
go and confer with their people, and that whatever obstacles may 
have been thrown in the way of their coming in to make peace may 
be removed. In a word, under all the circumstances of the case, so 
far as the particular captives alluded to are concerned, I feel myself called 
upon, by every sense of justice and honor, to ask that they may be releas- 


14 


[ Doc. No. 327. ] 

ed and placed at liberty, to determine with their people what to do under 
all the circumstances of their affairs, as freely and untrammelled as they 
were previous to the council held with them by the Cherokee mediation, 
as it was through the influence of the Cherokee talk they had consented 
to go under the flag of truce into General Jesup’s headquarters. The de¬ 
tailed report of the deputation of their proceedings on this mission not 
having as yet been fully made out, I have deemed it important to present 
the facts herein briefly stated without delay ; and should it be deemed 
necessary, or you shall desire it, I will communicate to you the full report 
of the deputation as soon as it may be in readiness. 

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient, humble servant, 

JOHN ROSS. 

Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, 

Secretary of War. 










































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